Heritage Day 2024

" Heritage Day is a South African public holiday celebrated on 24 September. On this day, South Africans are encouraged to celebrate their culture and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people." Wikipedia

Good morning, dear Blogger friends. 24 September is Heritage Day in South Africa, also referred to as National Braai (BBQ) day. 

Until I came to the Central Drakensberg, I had never become involved in Heritage Day. In 2018, I'd been managing my friends' art shop in the local shopping center for a year.  I wore a Swahili shift dress which I had bought in Tanzania while living there. At work, I saw the three Zulu in the gift shop next door were all resplendent in their beautiful, beaded Zulu skirts, tops and headdresses. We posed together and had photos to mark the occasion. 

On the way home that afternoon, I stopped off at a lifestyle center where Mavis, sister of my Thandiwe, manages a menswear shop. She was dressed in full Zulu regalia, and we had a photo together. 

Apart from 2019 when I was out of action after surgery and 2020 where we were under Lockdown, I have always dressed the part and had photos with Mavis. 

This year on the public holiday, Thandi and I had to work at The Bunker, cleaning after guests and prepping for incoming guests. As I normally fetch her from the township, I always offer a lift to Mavis and Thandi's daughter, Thombi who also had to work in the lifestyle center.

My Swahili outfit

Thandi and I making the bed in our regalia!

Polishing, sweeping, mopping. All in a day's work!

Ready and welcoming for the incoming guests

There is still snow on the mountains to the guests' delight

On our way home we stopped off at the lifestyle center where Mavis works...

...and posed for photos

Mavis indicated the staff at the restaurant and said they were REALLY dressed in true Zulu fashion. Thandi and I walked over to see for ourselves.

A local musician was preforming at the center and this young woman entertained the visitors with her energetic dancing

Thandi posing with a lady who works in the restaurant

Finally, Thandi and I dragged ourselves away from the festivities. I dropped her in the township and came home... to enjoy the rest of the public holiday!

HAPPY WEDNESDAY TO YOU ALL!

Snow in September

 Good morning, dear Blogger friends Thank you for the comments on my previous post. 

Although it's spring in the Southern Hemisphere and that we experienced very high temperatures mid-week, on Friday the weather changed. Heavy grey skies were the order of the day; it began to rain. And rain.

By 9pm Friday night, the snowflakes began to cover the ground.  On the high Berg and in several towns which lie higher than the Champagne Valley.

It was also the start of a long weekend (we celebrate Heritage Day on Tuesday), and the school holidays had also begun. 

So... guests were pouring into the Valley. 

Only problem is that anyone who was still on the roads that night, were caught in traffic jams on our passes and at the toll gates along the National N3. 

Which is scary. 

We are NOT equipped for snow and extreme conditions. 

An aerial view of one of the passes on the freeway between Johannesburg and Durban. Although not distinct in the photo, the vehicles were backed up for 30km and strainded on this pass for more than 24 hours

This image was posted on our WhatsApp group at 5am on Saturday morning

Emergency services worked tirelessly to succor people stranded by supplying warm blankets and flasks of hot drinks.

I had guests who were due in by Saturday midday. They wisely waited in Johannesburg and were kept abreast of the situation when I shared the messages with them.  They eventually left home for the Drakensberg early this morning. And arrived safely via a second pass (which only JUST opened by 9am today) at The Bunker. 

The pass on the National Freeway was closed to ordinary traffic while the emergency services and heavy-duty machines cleared the road and assisted the motorists down the hill, 

This message was blazoned on our social media warming all motorists not to attempt using this pass. The SA police and traffic was out in full force and turned private vehicles back as they approached the pass. Only emergency vehicles and machines were permitted on the pass

People from the cities on the East Coast swarmed up the Freeway wanting to see and experience the snow firsthand. This exacerbated the traffic congestion, and the public was urged via all platforms and over the radio NOT TO CHASE THE SNOW. There were so many images on the socials, you could experience it here. 

The sun is out again, and it will be another 28 years before we experience such heavy snow in South Africa again. 

Meanwhile, we admire the great mountain peaks in our Valley

Champagne Castle and Cathkin Peak 20 September 2024

POST SCRIPT:

I received a message late yesterday afternoon with this image below: 

This was the traffic situation on the N3 Freeway pass which has been closed to traffic since Friday night.  Received 16h13 on Sunday 

WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL MONDAY AND WEEK AHEAD

Eight years!

 Good morning, dear Blogger friends. Despite my best intentions, I don't seem to get back to Blogger once I've posted. Thank you for your kind comments.

Feedback on the Laptop. No, my old one is gone/dead/blown up. And I am still using the farm machine. It just wasn't in my budget to purchase a new laptop at this time of the year. 

However, at the beginning of August, I wrote in for a competition on the radio (I have no TV; I only listen to the radio) and I WON a considerable amount of money in vouchers!

Takealot is a website on which I could purchase a laptop of my choice. Angus has ordered it for me, which will be shipped to his home in the Free State. He will insert SSD, from my old laptop and One Drive and ensure that all my files are retrieved and saved onto my new laptop.  He will send it to me via Postnet another great service we have in South Africa.

WHOOPEE. Soon I will have my new laptop, called an IdeaPad. 

And then...

...as you can see by the heading of this post, today 16 September 2024; we arrived here on 16 September 2016. 

 I have been in Champagne Valley, Central Drakensberg for eight years!  

HAVE A WONDERFUL MONDAY! 

A rejuvinating break

 Good morning dear Blogger friends. Well, here I am again, after ANOTHER long break. 

I'll pedal back to the second half of June After having my wing mirror repaired in Ladysmith, I headed for the Free State, I was on my way to spend time with Angus, Amanda and my three grandchildren in the great city of Bloemfontein. 

After a five-hour, uneventful road trip, I arrived at their home in the suburbs just after 5pm.  Although I had taken leave from the farm office and my Weigh-Less job, I was still working online. When I stopped for a break in a town two hours before my destination, I saw several messages on my WhatsApp with new members applying to join my online Weigh-Less group. After supper, and catching up on the news, I fetched my laptop, opened it and turned it on.

 Nothing. 

A black screen.

My worst nightmare!

Angus checked it for me and also couldn't get it started. Oh whey.  He said he would take it to their IT man the next day. He then set me up on an extra laptop and so I could continue to work. 

Angus and Amanda both gave up their jobs in the corporate world and work from home. The children, 14, 12 and nine are homeschooled. 

Every morning Angus disappears into his office (just off the master bedroom) and teaches English online to foreign students. Once Amanda has set up each child with their work for the morning, she works online doing research for companies. She is also an Avon representative and has recently joined a company selling health suplements. 

I sat in the same air space as Amanda and worked at my Avon, accommodation and the ubiquitous Weigh-Less business. At one stage I got up to stretch my legs and wandered around their house checking on the children. Including Angus' (who works behind closed doors), I counted eight laptops humming industriously. 

Joel, Abby and Liam, my three grandies in Bloemfontein

Liam doing his school work 

Amanda assisting Abby in some task

Joel at his laptop, doing his schoolwork

Amanda making choc chip cookies in their well appointed kitchen

Angus baking sweeet potato chips for dinner

Liam, the littlest Hedges 

Angus

Of course, in due course it was Saturday, and I wanted to do the local Parkrun. Angus was registered at the nearby Innibos (translated In the bush) Parkrun. 

It was Angus's second Parkrun ever. 

When we got home, Amanda asked if I would like to visit the Farmer's Market which takes place every Saturday, Oh yeah! What woman doesn't enjoy wandering between stalls and browsing.

When we arrived home, Angus had had a message from Armand, the IT guy who was checking up on my laptop. He said the base (engine?) motor was covered in hair. I insisted this is from my carpeted office. He said he could repair it at a small cost. I told Angus to have it done. 

On Sunday we all attended church where Angus does the sound from the rear of the hall, so Amanda and I sat together facing the stage. She normally is on stage as part of the music team, but she had had surgery on her jaw and was taking a break.

The following week we continued to work as a family in the house. Not one person got in the way of the other. No one raised an eyebrow, when I got into the kitchen and made a batch of scones with Amanda's gluten free flour. I also made a large dish of cauliflower/broccoli cheese for supper. 

On Thursday morning, I visited one of the Weigh-Less venue groups. I sat and chatted to Hester, the Group Leader and Ruth her Group Assistant while members arrived in between to be weighed before they went off to work.

Jo and Hester

Back home, Abby and cousin, Chloe were making chips for their brunch. Amanda's siter lives in the city too, and the two families enjoy times together

And then it was Saturday. And another Parkrun opportunity.

Angus and I drove little further this time and did the Brandkop Parkrun. 

On the way home, he stopped to refuel his car and I realized that we had not had a photo. Angus took a selfie right there at the filling station

My fifth away Parkrun, and Angus third! Brandkop (translated Burning head) 

Then disaster struck. 

Armand contacted Angus and said, although he had tried everything possible, my laptop was completely burnt out. 

ERGH!

After a lovely, restful ten-day holiday with the family I drove back home that day. 

All was not lost, back at the farm, we have an old laptop which I use for work. And with today's technology, Angus came through remotely on Anydesk and showed me where all my information was stored in One Drive.

Aaah. I continue to work in the farm office on this laptop; Ron agreed I could use it personally in the interim; then I come and work on it at home. But oh whey. It is SOOOO very, very slow.

Meanwhile two weeks ago as Skabby and I had finished Parkrun here at in Winterton, Angus sent me a photo of him and Abby. Her first Parkrun. 

 

Mmm. I like to think that I have influenced them to enjoy this great Saturday event. 

Abby's first Parkrun with Dad Angus

HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY!

A sad day on the farm

 Good afternoon, dear Blogger friends. As many of you know, I moved onto this farm in December 2017. I live in a small (very small) cottage between the two farmhouses belonging to Farmer John and Ron and Gavin and Nine (farmer's son, and DIL) 

Walking Skabby regularly up the farm road to the dam, I got to know the dairy herd very well. I did many, many posts about the cows and cute calves. 

Over the seven years I got to know the cows; saw the newborn offspring when the cows calved; saw the calves grow up and themselves produce beautiful healthy calves. 

Healthy, sleek and producing many liters of milk in the dairy, 

Then disaster struck. In May 2022, when the vets did a check, they discovered the herd was infected with CA (contagious abortion). It contaminates the milk so that was unfit for human consumption.  For several months the milk was poured down the drain. 

There is no inoculation against it and the herd had to go.  The only thing the animal's meat was suitable for is dog food. 

The factory which produced this product, was in the Eastern Cape, two to three days' travel away.  The cows had to be fattened (which, with the lush lands they lazed around on for many months, helped to increase their weight) as when transported they tended to lose some of the weight. 

James the herdsman knew every animal ...

Harsh; sad but it happened. 

This week the last of the herd was loaded and taken away...

The slogan on the transport truck said: quietly moving along

I like to think that the owners of that transport company have the welfare and comfort of the cows in mind. Even though this a final trip for them, I hoped that they were not stressed unduly by finding themselves removed from beautiful green pastures to being enclosed in a tin can on a trip which lasted more than two days.

I know farming is a business and farmers generally don't become emotionally involved. I quietly sent up a prayer and comforting thoughts for the beautiful bovine ladies... 

I'm linking to Saturday critters with Eileen here

A close encounter

 Good morning, dear Blogger friends. Thank you for your kind comments on my previous blogs. I intend to visit your blogs as soon as possible. 

As mentioned in recent posts, I'm either working or walking. I forget to say that for relaxation, once a week, on Friday mornings I join like-minded friends for a Taigelates class. Taigalates is a tri-discipline made up of three other disciplines: Tai chi, yoga and Pilates. 

On Friday 31 May 2024, I was driving 20km to our class. It was early morning, and the sun was rising behind me as I drove towards the foothills of our majestic Central Drakensberg peaks. I glanced in my rear-view mirror and noticed fellow exerciser, Yvonne, in her little blue sedan behind me. As I crested a rise, I felt a glancing blow on my right. So fast and so hard. I screamed out loud as I saw my external wing mirror disintegrate.  

I pulled over to the side and Yvonne pulled in ahead of me. She ran towards my car asking if I was OK. She said she just saw fragments of glass and was concerned my windscreen had shattered.  I said no, the oncoming vehicle had swiped my 30cm mirror off my righthand side door.  She mentioned that I was well within my side of the white line. And would witness to this when I claimed from my insurance. As far as we both were concerned, a guest had hit me and continued merrily on his way. 

I did my hour of Taigalates and only after we'd finished, did Yvonne and I relate my near-death experience to the ladies who were horrified. 

My wing mirror had been clipped by an oncoming vehicle 

which was going so fast I never saw it!

In South Africa, the steering wheel is on the right-hand side of the vehicle. We drive on the left-hand side of the road. As can be seen, the smack was mere centimeters from my right arm (inside the closed car) as I was driving. 

I phoned the insurance company. 

Ergh!

Ironically, I had changed my insurance to another company BUT only effective from 1 June 2024. I was covered by this company until midnight 31 May 2024. It was now 8.45 am.

Not so, according to the young voice who took my call. She insisted I only had comprehensive cover. Then she proceeded to fire questions at me: did I see the registration of the vehicle that had hit me (DOH!). And did I notify the police. Double DOH!  Our protection services would not drive out 30km to an accident scene where only one vehicle remained. Or as things are done in our culture: I would have been told: we will come after one hour. And I can guarantee you that I would STILL be waiting for them!

The questions continued: I was asked for my vehicle registration. And make of car. I supplied them. THEN she asked the color of my car. 

WOW!

I consider myself a patient and mild mannered vintage lady.  But this last question broke the camel's back. I told the lady that I could NOT believe she was asking me all these questions and I had just had an accident.  Didn't she know that I was sitting on the verge of the road, stressed after the accident and she was asking irrelevant questions. I said to her: would you like to know what I am wearing: black ski pants and a stripey top. She retorted that I need not be sarcastic. 

Frustrated beyond belief, I cut the call, put my head on my desk and sobbed my eyes out!  A minute later I heard a message on my phone and saw it was on the on the community WhatsApp group:

"My humble apologies if I clipped your car (with my wing mirror) as I was coming up the hill from the choir school. I was totally blinded by the sun and positioned myself in the road to avoid hitting pedestrians on side of the road. I didn't stop but I will apologize anyway" 

I sent her a message on the Group and asked her to contact me privately. Of  course, several other people contacted me privately too, asking did she hit YOU, Jo? Are you OK? 

Meanwhile this local lady did contact me; I told her that she had damaged my mirror to which she replied that she would pay for the replacement and repair. I immediately contacted the agent which I use in Ladysmith,  who sent me a quote for a new mirror and the labor to replace it. R2400/US$120

With my heart in my mouth, I forwarded the quote to the perpetrator and by way of return I saw a direct deposit into my bank account for the full amount. 

Phew!

I sent her a message thanking her for her consideration and said I hoped we would meet one day under more favorable conditions. She said she was surprised that I had got the quote so quickly. I didn't respond because if I had, I would have said, I am VERY quick off the mark and in this case, has stood me in good stead!

I drove without a wing mirror for ten days before I booked my car into the agent. 

Driving away from the repair garage after having my new mirror installed

Here above I was at the start of a short holiday away from home. But that is another story for a future post.

As for the insurance company. Well, I cancelled the comprehensive cover immediately which evoked several agents contacting me to enquire why I was cancelling. 

Phew!

It's cancelled. Short term insurance is so expensive in our country and almost ALWAYS fraught with to-ing and fro-ing correspondence before they pay out. 

HAVE A GREAT TUESDAY! 

... or walking

 Good morning, dear Blogger friends. As I said in yesterday's post, I am either working ...

or

walking!

Earlier this year I wrote in to take part in an annual event arranged by our regional radio station called the East Coast Radio Big Walk. You could enter to do the 5km or the 10km. I signed up for the latter. On Sunday 26 May 2024. 

As I have posted ad nauseum  regularly  Skabby and I do the 5km Parkrun here at home on a weekly basis.

Taking part in the Big Walk was a lot different. I had to travel to the city (180km from the farm). I also had an appointment with Weigh-Less HO CEO on the Friday, so I traveled down for the weekend.

Ready for the off!

I always set out early 

Waiting in the Weigh-Less Head Office

After a fruitful meeting with my Weigh-Less employer, I stopped off at the designated venue to collect my goodie bag for Sunday's event. 

My race number, a tee shirt, lip balm, bottled water, several power snack bars and a small tube of sunscreen

I drove to the North Coast and stayed with my SIL, Shelley (my birding mentor) for the weekend. 

On Saturday, while everyone slept on, I de-activated the burglar alarm, let myself out of their house and drove to the nearest Parkrun.

Ballito Parkrun 

After the Parkrun, I met up with Shell and Chilly, my BIL and their older son Bruce, his wife, Amy and their baby girl, Anna

I spent a restful Saturday afternoon and evening with Shelley (walking on the beach with her six dogs) and back at home cooking pasta for dinner and catching up on all our news. 

Early, very early on Sunday morning, I, once again deactivated the burglar alarm, let myself out of the house and quietly drove off to Durban. 

Starting out on the Big Walk

7am and the sun rising over the Indian Ocean

At the 1km mark, I met one of my favorite radio announcers, Deon G (Govender)

The participants stretched far ahead into the distance. There were 20, 000 entrants to this event. More than the Comrades Marathon which is run between the two cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg every year!

When I passed the 5km mark, I thought, mmm, that's my Saturday Parkrun done and dusted. It was also here that those who had signed in for the 5km distance, veered off to the right and to their destination

2km further we passed under the freeway, the N2 

Our very own Sydney Opera House lookalike: The Moses Mabida Stadium

As we approached the last 1500meter before the finish, we were entertained by various artists. These three ladies caught my attention belting out Zulu beats

And then I was at the finish line. Whoohoo! 

I noticed a couple taking photos of each other, so I offered to take one of them together under the FINISH banner. I asked the gentleman to take a photo of me 

Along with several other participants, I was bussed back to our vehicles at the start. It was 9am. I set off out of the city; and by 12 noon I drove into the farmyard. 

Greeting Skabby who was ecstatic to see me and walking into my house, I checked my watch...

20, 722 steps which translate into 17.5km

I slept well that night!

HAPPY MONDAY TO YOU ALL!